My Strad is my daily driver and replaced the GTR which I had for 3 years. The GTS is my track car. I bought it last feb with just 1900 miles in it. Like most, it had never been in track. It's now covered nearly 6k miles and nearly all on track!
The Strad wasn't planned. Friend of mine bought it new in September and sold it to me with just 915 miles on the clock a few weeks ago as he'd the opportunity to get into a 458. I bought it without having had a drive or anything! First drive, I was blown away at how entertaining it was.
I don't find it all like an Aston. It is much more like the E92 m3 or the e39 m5 in character, both cars I dearly loved, but with elements of the 430 and 360 Ferrari in its drivetrain. The interior is like no other car to me, but I guess you could draw an exterior parallel with Jag and Aston. I can't talk for other Granturismos as I've never driven one, but the Strad is pretty feral. Any car with Corsas for tyres is going to struggle for grip at this time of year, especially one with the engine at the front and rwd!
I drive it in Race mode all the time and cannot believe how good the noise is. It is right up there with the Aventador.
My only complaint is the squeaky mouse noise coming from the steering wheel!
i try not to buy cars that plummet in value, which is why I've not bought an Aston or Maserati before. I essentially picked up the Strad very cheaply at the trade in price my friend had been offered against his 458. Between that and it being one of the last UK Strads probably, I think these may well do ok money wise in the future.
I feel lucky in all fronts then with this unexpected car! I'm treating her to a couple of extra Carbon trimkets that I would of specced, namely the Carbon paddles, centre console and door strips.
Incidentally, comparing it to the m3 GtS, both have incredibly aural engines and are quite feral and torquey in their delivery. 4.4 vs 4.7 and 445bhp vs 456bhp. GtS revs past 8k but my understanding is the Strad engine is deliberately held back and can Rev a bit higher but not to Ferrari heights. The noise of both is which that they are a joy to drive at slow speeds as well as fast ones, and their loose rear ends add to that. Now my GtS is always in track setup, I never get to drive it for fun on the road, but the Strad fills that gap too.
I haven't got the Speciale yet, that's a few weeks away and actually the Performante is not mine yet either, buying that off another friend and mine in less than two weeks.
It might be all change again once those get added!